Vidor Middle School demolition moves forward again

Vidor Middle School stands empty waiting for FEMA to approve the funds to replace it. The delayed projects at Oak Forest Elementary School and Vidor Middle School are coming up on three years since they were flooded in Hurricane Harvey. Photo made on May 8, 2020.
Fran Ruchalski/The Enterprise less

Vidor Middle School stands empty waiting for FEMA to approve the funds to replace it. The delayed projects at Oak Forest Elementary School and Vidor Middle School are coming up on three years since they were ... more

Photo: Fran Ruchalski, The Enterprise / The Enterprise

Photo: Fran Ruchalski, The Enterprise / The Enterprise

Image
1of/1

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 1

Vidor Middle School stands empty waiting for FEMA to approve the funds to replace it. The delayed projects at Oak Forest Elementary School and Vidor Middle School are coming up on three years since they were flooded in Hurricane Harvey. Photo made on May 8, 2020.
Fran Ruchalski/The Enterprise less

Vidor Middle School stands empty waiting for FEMA to approve the funds to replace it. The delayed projects at Oak Forest Elementary School and Vidor Middle School are coming up on three years since they were ... more

Photo: Fran Ruchalski, The Enterprise / The Enterprise

Vidor Middle School demolition moves forward again

1 / 1

Back to Gallery

Vidor Independent School District is again on the verge of demolishing Vidor Middle School — the second of two schools rendered unfit for renovation after Tropical Storm Harvey — nearly eight months after plans to tear it down were halted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The district was preparing demolition of the campus when FEMA ordered additional documentation and reviews.

“This process has remained a priority and we have stressed the 3 year anniversary is upcoming,” superintendent Jay Killgo told The Enterprise. “We were pleased to learn ... that the rebuild of Vidor Middle School is in the final review with the Office of Legislative Affairs.”

In a written statement, FEMA Region 6 told The Enterprise that the project was validated on March 25.

“The United States Army Corps of Engineers has independently validated our findings and our field staff will be working proactively with the ISD to move the project forward,” A FEMA official said.

U.S. Rep. Brian Babin, R-Woodville, who excoriated the agency in January for the series of delays, said he was “pleased to relay that the VISD Middle School is finally eligible for replacement.”

“However, the funds have not been distributed to the school district, as it is still awaiting the final approval,” Babin said.

Killgo said the district, which has been navigating distance learning amid social distancing guidelines to slow the spread of the coronavirus, plans to begin demolition as soon as the review is complete.

“FEMA has shared that we must show completed architectural plans before that can happen,” he said, “We have started working on those plans and will continue to push for the demolition. The good news is that the new campus seems to be virtually approved.”

The district also is moving forward on rebuilding Oak Forest Elementary School, which has been torn down since it was damaged by flood waters.

“We also bid out the construction of Oak Forest Elementary School and that was approved last week in a board meeting,” Killgo said. “The winning bid was $17.5 million by G&G Construction. We have some details to work out with mitigation and then we expect to break ground.”

Additional reviews, changing requirements and pushed deadlines have worn on the patience of administrators and lawmakers who originally planned on moving forward with demolition in September 2019.

“This has certainly been a frustrating process,” Babin said. “The VISD has followed through on everything required of them, yet FEMA has continued to ask for more, change requirements and request the same information and actions again and again.”

In January, Joseph Vermette, external affairs director for FEMA Region 6, told The Enterprise that delays in larger projects are common to ensure everything is in compliance.

“It’s understandable that some applicants will be frustrated with the process,” Vermette said. “However, larger and more complex projects may take more time to adjudicate. Accuracy and attention to detail take time, and we want to ensure the best possible outcome for the applicant.”

FEMA has continued to review projects related to Harvey, and other permanent work projects, even as they are tasked with leading the Federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But chronic staffing issues within the agency unrelated to the pandemic were a key cause for delays, Babin said in a written statement.

“Due to a high volume of staff turnover at FEMA, including four different program delivery managers assigned in Region 6, substantial delays have occurred preventing the VISD from receiving the federal disaster relief funding necessary to replace the middle school,” he said.

“Since…Harvey devastated our region in 2017, the VISD has been working diligently with FEMA to gain the funds needed to replace their middle school — which was underwater and severely damaged.”

Vermette told The Enterprise the delays were not a result of turnover, but to safeguard “the applicant from future audits while ensuring full compliance with FEMA’s standards.”

“FEMA doesn’t like delays in the processing of our public assistance projects either, and staff turnover is normal,” Vermette said. “However, turnover was not a factor in this case.”

VISD is one of several districts across Southeast Texas waiting for funds to rebuild or renovate schools.

Students at Vidor ISD, Hardin-Jefferson ISD, and Hamshire-Fannett ISD all have been attending schools in portable buildings while their original facilities await repair or replacement.

Hardin-Jefferson recently asked voters for $25 million in bond monies to supplement funding from FEMA.

“H-JISD is in a unique situation that may never occur again with the amount of FEMA funding that we are receiving,” Hardin-Jefferson ISD Communications Director Mandy Fortenberry told The Enterprise in February.

“In combination with the $25 million from our community and the FEMA funding, we will be able to build just under $70 million in projects.”

The bond issue has been postponed until November due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Killgo said VISD “appreciates FEMA working with us and also the support of Congressman Babin throughout this process.”

Babin said he would continue to work with VISD and FEMA officials, and “do all he can to ensure this middle school is rebuilt expediently.”